Column connector

ABSTRACT

A connector for structural members usually used to connect a column of one story of a building to the column of the story above, the connector having separate male and female parts with both parts having like retaining means in the form of horizontal ridges with grout containing an epoxy cementing agent filling the voids therebetween and where both male and female parts have integral retaining means on that portion displaced in the concrete column for securement thereto and where tapered mating surface are provided on both parts to guide and fix the position of the female portion in relation to the male portion in height and direction of plumb.

United States Patent McCaul, III et al.

[541 COLUMN CONNECTOR [72] Inventors: James F. McCaul, III, Birmingham, Ala.; Lloyd A. Compton, Denver, C010.

[73] Assignee: Schokbeton Products Corp., Birmingham, Ala.

[22] Filed:- Apt-i126, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 137,680

[52] US. Cl. ..52/583, 52/271, 52/295, f 52/587, 52/744, 52/432 [51] Int. Cl. ..E04c U 30 [58] Field of Search ..52/259, 583, 744,302, 587, 52/432, 436, 266, 271, 295, 297

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,045,562 11/1912 Kennedy ..'.52/711 3,326,004 6/1967 Williams ..52/704 3,594,971 7/1971 Hughes ..52/236 3,473,273 10/ 1 969 Gunkel ..52/432 2,616,284 11/1952 Leontovich ..52/303 3,280,522 10/1966 Palfey et al. ..52/583 I -Nov. 14, 1972 3,377,755 4/1968 Stucky et al. ..52/583 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 103,085 10/1963 Norway .1 ..52/587 264,091 11/1967 Austria.. ..52/5 87 Primary Examiner-Frank L. Abbott Assistant Examiner-Leslie A. Braun Attorney-Robert F. Hess [57] ABSTRACT A connector for structural members usually used to connect a column of one story of a building to the column of the story above, the connector having separate male and female parts with both parts having like retaining means in the form of horizontal ridges with grout containing an epoxy cementing agent filling the voids therebetween and where both male and female parts have integral retaining means on that portion displaced in the concrete column for securement thereto and where tapered mating surface are provided on both parts to guide and fix the position of the female portion in relation to the male portion in height and direction of plumb.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 1 COLUMN CONNECTOR DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART the ends of the columns must be held in alignment while a bolt'is inserted and tightened. The improved connector of our invention allows the stacking of columns that become self-aligned and form a joint that resists bending thus providing advantage over the prior art shown as exemplified by .U.S. Pat. No. 3,261,135, since no alignment of bolt holes or bolting is required Details of the subject invention are explained more fully required. 1

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, the primary object of our invention'to provide a connector that will fix the position of one column set upon the top of another in such a manner as to allow successive columns to be stacked one upon the other in the normal sequence of erecting a building and without the necessity of using fasteners or delaying the erection to align the columns.

It is a further object to provide a connector of cast or fabricated construction having a male and female portion and each portion including integral means for retaining the connector in a precast column.

It is yet a further object to provide a connector with precisely tapered guiding surfaces that will accurately align and fix the columns in the desired position.

It is also an object to provide ridges on some of the internal surfaces of the female portion and on some of the external surfaces of the male portion all to assure full contact of the mating parts and to assure that they will resist a bending moment, once grout containing an epoxy cementing agent is forced .into the voids thereformed.

It is also another object to provide a means of grouting the connection to assure that the voids formed by the shape and fit of the male and female parts are properly filled.

These and other objects will become apparent from a the following description and brief summary of our invention as well as from the detailed description hereinbelow.

The invention is a cast or fabricated metal connector for precast structural members, the connector having separate male and female parts with both parts having like retaining means in the form of horizontal ridges with grout filling the voids therebetween and where both male and female parts have integral retaining means on that portion displaced in the concrete columns for securement thereto and where precisely tapered mating surfaces are provided on both parts to guide and fix the position of the female portion in relation to the male portion in height and direction of plumb.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view in partial cross-section of a complete building showing generally the features of our connector.

- FIG. 2 is a perspective view of our invention showing in detail the female portion of our connector.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view in detail of the male portion of our invention.

FIG. 4 is a vertical fragmentary sectional view of the male portion of our connector taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a vertical fragmentary sectional view of the female portion of our connector taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to thedrawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a completed building wherein our invention may be used to connect the columns of all stories in the preferred manner now described. The building comprises three basic precast concrete components. Column members 2 are one of the basic components. Each such column member 2 includes two integrally cast structural loadbearing columns 3 and may include integral architectural precast panels 4. The other basic components comprise a precast slab 5 and corridor forming box-like unit 6. When arranged in rows as shown the slabs 5 form the floor of each story and the corridor units form a common corridor for each floor of the building. Each column member is equivalent in height to the height of one story of the building. At the respective ends of each structural column 3 there is provided a novel connection means which is our invention. The male and female parts of the connector are shown generally as 7 and 8, respectively. Each is embedded in and bonded to a respective end of column 3. For sake of simplicity we have shown one side of the building in FIG. 1 as having the male parts located at the top ends of column 3 and at the other side, the female parts. Obviously, it makes no difference which end of which column includes which part so long as a consistent pattern is followed for each adjacent column. As shown in FIG. 2 the female part of the connector comprises a flange 9 to allow accurate location of this female part in column 3, wall 10 having a series of horizontally arranged, relatively large ridges 11 to provide means for firmly anchoring female part 8 in the concrete column 3, and a cavity 12 in the shape of a truncated pyramid into which the male part 7 of an adjacent column will fit to complete the connection. On the inside surfaces of female part 8 which form the cavity or recess 12 there is provided two oppositely disposed tapered surfaces 13 which as will be explained more fully below provide the means for accurately locating each column member relative to the other. The tapered surfaces 13 extend the full length of part 8 from flange 9 to the opposite end and the taper is in a radially inward direction beginning at flange 9. The plane of each surface 13 is parallel to axis .x-x which passes through the midpoint of female part 8. Axis x-x extends along the face of the building 1 such that if any column member 2 were to rotate about the x-x axis it would be tilting outwardly (or inwardly) of the face of the building and thus be out of plumb. For purposes of this description and the appended claims the xx axis is hereinafter referred to as the plumb axis. The axis extending through the centroid of the opening at the upper and lower ends of part 8 shall be referred to herein as the horizontal axis. Each surface 13 and 26 is machined to assure an absolute true, flat, smooth tapered surface. The remaining surfaces of the recess 12 are shaped to accommodate male part 7 and include a series of ridges similar in size, shape and disposition to ridges 1 1 on the outer surfaces of walls 10. Within an area close to the flange 9, there is provided a tube 14 located within wall and extending outwardly a distance greater than the outer surface of the precast concrete column in which female part 8 is embedded.

A separate end closure 15 is provided at the other end of female part 8 and has a flange 16 and lower depending skirt portion 17 adapted to snugly conform to the configuration of the recess 12 when inserted therein. A similar tube 18 extends outwardly from the end closure in like manner to tube 14. These tubes are used as means for grouting the free space in each recess 12 which is not filled by the interengaging portion of the corresponding male part of the connector. Grout supplied through one tube will exit out the other when the free space has been filled thus indicating enough grout has been supplied. The tube ends are thereafter cut off flush with columns 3 and the surface of the column finished. In FIG. 3 there is shown the male portion 7 of our connector which is cast as one piece and includes a rectangular flange 19 similar in shape to flange 9 of the female part, an anchoring rib 20 and a connecting rib 21, which fits inside the cavity 12 of part 8 to complete the connection. The anchoring rib 21 includes a series of horizontally arranged, relatively large ridges 22 on both its sides. When concrete is poured around rib 20 as it is situated in the mold for forming column 3, the concrete fills the voids between ridges 22 and, once the concrete is set, provides good retention and'resistance against movement in all directions relative to column 3. Connecting rib 21 likewise includes a series of ridges on walls 23, similar in size, shape and disposition to those of walls 10 of cavity 12 of female part 8. However, the outermost dimension of walls 24 of connecting rib 21, along its entire length and including the ridges is slightly less than that of ridges 25 of recess 12 so that connecting rib 21 can be freely inserted in recess 12 with no interference fit between the respective opposing walls 24 and 10. Connecting rib 21 further includes machined tapered end surfaces 26 which are tapered the same degree and in the same manner as tapered surfaces 13. The one difference being, however, that the distance between any two points on the opposing surfaces 26, at any point throughout its length is slightly greater than the corresponding dimension on the tapered surfaces 13 of female part 8. When connecting rib 21 is inserted fully into recess 12 to the point where the respective tapered surfaces, 26 and 13, engage along their entire common length, this difference in distance referred to above is designed to cause approximately one quarter of an inch free space between flanges 9 and 19. Thus it will be evident that because our connector is provided with these very accurately machined interengaging tapered surfaces 13 and 26 we have provided a means for precisely aligning all column members 2 in the building 1. Connecting rib 21 is further provided with a hole 27 to allow flow of grout from one side of part 7 to the other. Hole 27 also provides a lifting eye to aid in handling the completed column. A neoprene gasket 29 of suitable thickness is placed around the male part 7 in such a manner as to fill the above described free space between flanges 9 and 19 to prevent grout from spilling during the grouting operation.

As shown in FIG. 3, the cross-section shape of connecting rib 21 is that of two trapazoids having a commonbase. This shape is not critical. The primary consideration is to have sufficient cross sectional area to provide the strength characteristics required. Both parts of the aforedescribed connector may be of cast or fabricated metal or other suitable material, but are preferably of cast ductile iron due to the corrosion resistant and strength qualities of this material.

The manner of assembly of the connector parts relative to the columns 3 will be apparent from the description given above. However, to briefly summarize, the female part 8 should be held in the base portion of the column form by means of a template so as to accurately and firmly fix it in its desired position with the flange 9 flush with the lower end surface of the column. End closure 15 should be in place and tubes 14 and 18 should extend outside the column form. The male portion 7 should be similarly fixed to the top of the column form with flange l9 flush with the top surface of the column and stem 20 embedded in the concrete. Likewise, the method of connecting parts 7 and 8 to form a connection between columns will be apparent from the above descriptions. After erection of the columns and at the convenience of the erection schedule all column connections should be grouted. Grout should be forced into tube 14 until all air has been expelled through tube 18 and a steady flow of grout devoid of air bubbles is emitted from tube 18. The grout will fill all void spaces between connecting rib 21 and the internal surfaces of recess 12 as well as filling hole 27 to provide a bond from one side of rib 21 to the other. In this manner the connection between two adjacent columns 3 is permanently fixed and the height of one column member in the story of the building will remain to be exactly the same as all others. The relative alignment in plumb and height was provided upon enterengagement of mating surfaces 13 and 26.

While only a preferred embodiment has been illustrated, other embodiments will be apparent with units constructed and arranged differently yet within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A connector for connecting two precast concrete structural members comprising a male part and a female part, both of said parts being adapted to be embedded to a respective one of the two structural members to be joined, said male part including connection means for interengaging said female part, said connection means comprising an elongated rib member having opposing side walls and two opposing, flat end walls tapered inwardly along the length thereof, each including a flat plane surface portion, the plane of one said surface portion being parallel to the other said surface as taken along the plumb axis thereof, at least one of said opposing side walls including irregular surface means,

said irregular surface means including a plurality of ridges, said male part further including retention means for securing said part within a precast concrete structural member,

said female part comprising a hollow body portion means extending therefrom,

said hollow body portion means having opposing intemal side walls and two opposing, flat end walls forming a recess within said body portion means, each of said end walls of said hollow body portion means including a flat plane surface portion, the plane of one said surface portion being parallel-to the other said surface as taken along the plumb axis thereof, and each said surface portion of said end walls of said femalepart being tapered in the same direction and to the same degree as said surface portions of said male part, at least one of said opposing internal side walls of said female part having a plurality of ridges,

said hollow body portion means further being provided with means for retaining said female part within a precast concrete structural member,

said hollow body portion means including means for allowing grout to flow to all free spaces between said rib member of said male part and said internal walls of said female part,

said surface portion of said opposing end walls of said male part being in face to face contact with the respective corresponding surface portions of said end walls of said female part.

2. A connector for connecting two precast concrete structural members comprising a male part and a female part, both of said parts being adapted to be embedded to a respective one of the two structural members to be joined, said male part including connection means for interengaging said female part, said connection means comprising an elongated rib member having the shape of a truncated pyramid with opposing side walls and two opposing, flat, end walls tapered inwardly along the length thereof, each end wall including a flat plane surface portion, the plane of one said surface portion being parallel to the other said surface portion as taken along the plumb axis thereof, at least one of said opposing side walls including irregular surface means, i

said irregular surface means including a plurality of horizontally disposed ridges, each of said ridges extending in length substantially from one of said end walls to the other of said end walls, and said plurality of ridges extending in rows throughout substantially the entire surface of said at least one side wall, said male part further including retention means for securing said part within a precast concrete structural member, and a flange means intermediate said rib member and said retention means and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof, said female part comprising a flange means, a hollow body portion means extending therefrom and being in the shape of a truncated pyramid, and end closure means for closing the end of said hollow body portion means opposite said flange means,

said flange means being a rectangular shaped, flat plate disposed perpendicular to the horizontal axis of said hollow body portion means,

said hollow body portion means having opposing internal side walls and two opposing, flat end walls forming a recess within said body portion means, each of said end walls of said hollow body portion means including a plane surface portion, the plane of one said surface portion being parallel to the other said surface portion as taken along the plumb axis thereof, and each said surface portion of said end walls of said female part being tapered in the same direction and to the same degree as said plane surface portions of said male part, at least one of said opposing internal side walls of said female part having a plurality of ridges extending from said flange means to said end closure means, and each said ridge extending from one of said opposing end walls of said hollow body portion means to the other of said opposing end walls, said hollow body portion means further being provided with means for retaining said female part within a precast concrete structural member,

said hollow body portion means and said end closure means including means for allowing grout to flow to all free spaces between said rib member of said male part and said internal walls of said female said opposing end walls of said male part being in face to face contact with the respective corresponding said surface portions of said end walls of said female part, and said flange and said flange means being slightly spaced from one another a distance sufficient to compress a neoprene gasket disposed between the flange and flange means and adapted to prevent grout from spilling out therebetween.

3. A connector as defined in claim 2 wherein,

said retention means of said male part comprises a second rib member having generally rectangular shape and including two side walls and two end walls, at least one of said side walls having irregular surface means for aiding retention of said male part in a precast concrete structural member, said irregular surface means of said second rib member comprising a plurality of disposed ridges, each of said ridges extending in length substantially from one of said end walls of said second rib member to the other of said end walls, and said plurality of ridges extending substantially the entire surface of said at least one side wall.

4. A connector as defined in claim 2 wherein said retention means comprises a second rib member having a generally rectangular shape and including two side walls and two end walls, each of said side walls of said retention means of said male part including irregular surface means for aiding retention of said male part in a precast concrete structural member, said irregular surface means of said second rib member comprising a plurality of disposed ridges, each of said ridges extending in length substantially from one of said end walls of said second rib member to the other of said end walls, and said plurality of ridges extending substantially the entire surface of said side walls, and at least one hole extending through said first rib member from one of said opposing side walls to the other. 

1. A connector for connecting two precast concrete structural members comprising a male part and a female part, both of said parts being adapted to be embedded to a respective one of the two structural members to be joined, said male part including connection means for interengaging said female part, said connection means comprising an elongated rib member having opposing side walls and two opposing, flat end walls tapered inwardly along the length thereof, each including a flat plane surface portion, the plane of one said surface portion being parallel to the other said surface as taken along the plumb axis thereof, at least one of said opposing side walls including irregular surface means, said irregular surface means including a plurality of ridges, said male part further including retention means for securing said part within a precast concrete structural member, said female part comprising a hollow body portion means extending therefrom, said hollow body portion means having opposing internal side walls and two opposing, flat end walls forming a recess within said body portion means, each of said end walls of said hollow body portion means including a flat plane surface portion, the plane of one said surface portion being parallel to the other said surface as taken along the plumb axis thereof, and each said surface portion of said end walls of said female part being tapered in the same direction and to the same degree as said surface portions of said male part, at least one of said opposing internal side walls of said female part having a plurality of ridges, said hollow body portion means further being provided with means for retaining said female part within a precast concrete structural member, said hollow body portion means including means for allowing grout to flow to all free spaces between said rib member of said male part and said internal walls of said female part, said surface portion of said opposing end walls of said male part being in face to face contact with the respective corresponding surface portions of said end walls of said female part.
 2. A connector for connecting two precast concrete structural members comprising a male part and a female part, both of said parts being adapted to be embedded to a respective one of the two structural members to be joined, said male part including connection means for interengaging said female part, said connection means comprising an elongated rib member having the shape of a truncated pyramid with opposing side walls and two opposing, flat, end walls tapered inwardly along the length thereof, each end wall including a flat plane surface portion, the plane of one said surface portion being parallel to the other said surface portion as taken along the plumb axis thereof, at least one of said opposing side walls including irregular surface means, said irregular surface means including a plurality of horizontally disposed ridges, each of said ridges extending in length substantially from one of said end walls to the other of said end walls, and said plurality of ridges extending in rows throughout substantially the entire surface of said at least one side wall, said male part further including retention means for securing said part within a precast concrete structural member, and a flange means intermediate said rib member and said retention means and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof, said female part comprising a flange means, a hollow body portion means extending therefrom and being in the shape of a truncated pyramid, and end closure means for closing the end of said hollow body portion means opposite said flange means, said flange means being a rectangular shaped, flat plate disposed perpendicular to the horizontal axis of said hollow body portion means, said hollow body portion means having opposing internal side walls and two opposing, flat end walls forming a recess within said body portion means, each of said end walls of said hollow body portion means including a plane surface portion, the plane of one said surface portion being parallel to the other said surface portion as taken along the plumb axis thereof, and each said surface portion of said end walls of said female part being tapered in the same direction and to the same degree as said plane surface portions of said male part, at least one of said opposing internal side walls of said female part having a plurality of ridges extending from said flange means to said end closure means, and each said ridge extending from one of said opposing end walls of said hollow body portion means to the other of said opposing end walls, said hollow body portion means further being provided with means for retaining said female part within a precast concrete structural member, said hollow body portion means and said end closure means including means for allowing grout to flow to all free spaces between said rib member of said male part and said internal walls of said female part, said opposing end walls of said male part being in face to face contact with the respective corresponding said surface portions of said end walls of said female part, and said flange and said flange means being slightly spaced from one another a distance sufficient to compress a neoprene gasket disposed between the flange and flange means and adapted to prevent grout from spilling out therebetween.
 3. A connector as defined in claim 2 wherein, said retention means of said male part comprises a second rib member having generally rectangular shape and including two side walls and two end walls, at least one of said side walls having irregular surface means for aiding retention of said male part in a precast concrete structural member, said irregular surface means of said second rib member comprising a plurality of disposed ridges, each of said ridges extending in length substantially from one of said end walls of said second rib member to the other of said end walls, and said plurality of ridges extending substantially the entire surface of said at least one side wall.
 4. A connector as defined in claim 2 wherein said retention means comprises a second rib member having a generally rectangular shape and including two side walls and two end walls, each of said side walls of said retention means of said male part including irregular surface means for aiding retention of said male part in a precast concrete structural member, said irregular surface means of said second rib member comprising a plurality of disposed ridges, each of said ridges extending in length substantially from one of said end walls of said second rib member to the other of said end walls, and said plurality of ridges extending substantially the entire surface of said side walls, and at least one hole extending through said first rib member from one of said opposing side walls to the other. 